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Chris Low on the Fed’s 2% Inflation Target
June 14, 2024 · 46 min
As the Fed continues to fight high inflation, some analysts have argued that structural forces are making the ideal inflation target higher than 2% in the post-pandemic economy. Factors out of the Fed’s control are making it particularly difficult this cycle to fully restore price stability without tipping the economy into a recession. Although the current regime has a relatively short history, financial markets would almost certainly question the Fed’s inflation-fighting credibility if they were to raise the target. In this episode, we talk with Chris Low, Chief Economist with FHN Financial, about the history behind the Fed’s 2% inflation target, the main arguments for and against raising it from 2%, and the potential economic ramifications from a higher target.